Condenser with a built-in receiver

Abstract

A condenser for a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator which are sequentially disposed is disclosed. The condenser includes a plurality of tubes having opposite first and second open ends, and a plurality of fins disposed between the plurality of tubes. First and second header pipes are fixedly disposed at the opposite ends respectively, and the open ends of the tubes are disposed in fluid communication with the interior of the header pipes. The first header pipe has an inlet which links the condenser to an external element of the circuit. The second header pipe has a first open end and a second closed end. An outlet element is disposed at the first open end of the second header pipe and links the condenser to an external element of the circuit. A pipe member is disposed in the second header. One open end of the pipe member is disposed near the closed end of the second header, and the other open end of the pipe member is disposed near the outlet. In operation, the refrigerant fluid which condenses in the condenser accumulates in an accumulating section and than flows out to the external fluid circuit from the second header exclusively through the pipe member. Since the condenser includes an accumulator section disposed therein, the need for a separate receiver element in the circuit is eliminated.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a condenser for a refrigerant fluid circuit, said condenser comprising a plurality of tubes having opposite first and second open ends, a plurality of fin units disposed between said plurality of tubes, first and second header pipes fixedly disposed at said opposite ends respectively, said open ends of said tubes disposed in fluid communication with the interior of said header pipes, said first header pipe having an inlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, said second header pipe having a closed end and an outlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, the improvement comprising: said closed end of said second header pipe disposed at a location below said outlet means, said condenser further comprising a pipe member having opposite open ends and disposed within said second header pipe, one open end of said pipe member disposed near said closed end of said second header pipe, a second open end of said pipe member hermetically linked to said outlet means such that refrigerant fluid flows from said condenser to the external elements of the circuit exclusively through said pipe member; and   refrigerant accumulating means for accumulating condensed liquid refrigerant therein, said accumulating means disposed at and closing the closed end of said second header pipe.   
     
     
       2. The condenser recited in claim 1, said tubes being essentially flat. 
     
     
       3. In a condenser for a refrigerant fluid circuit, said condenser comprising a plurality of tubes having opposite first and second open ends, a plurality of fin units disposed between said plurality of tubes, first and second header pipes fixedly disposed at said opposite ends respectively, said open ends of said tubes disposed in fluid communication with the interior of said header pipes, said first header pipe having an inlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, said second header pipe having an outlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, the improvement comprising: said second header pipe having first and second open ends, said outlet means having a channel therethrough for hermetically closing said first end of said second header pipe except for said channel, an accumulating means for accumulating refrigerant fluid disposed at and closing said second open end of said second header pipe, and a pipe member having open ends and disposed within said second header pipe, one open end of said pipe member extending beyond said second open end of said second header pipe and terminating within said accumulating means, a second open end of said pipe member hermetically linked to said channel of said outlet means.   
     
     
       4. The condenser recited in claim 3, said first end of said second header pipe disposed at the upper side of said condenser, said second end of said second header pipe disposed at the lower side of said condenser. 
     
     
       5. The condenser recited in claim 4, said accumulating means comprising a tank having an opening, the second open end of said second header pipe opening into said tank. 
     
     
       6. The condenser recited in claim 5, said tank having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. 
     
     
       7. The condenser recited in claim 6, said tank disposed so as to project from the lower surface of the condenser. 
     
     
       8. The condenser recited in claim 3, said accumulating means comprising a tank having an opening, the second open end of said second header pipe opening into said tank. 
     
     
       9. The condenser recited in claim 8, said tank having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. 
     
     
       10. The condenser recited in claim 9, said tank disposed so as to project from the lower surface of the condenser. 
     
     
       11. The condenser recited in claim 3, the overall boundary of said condenser being rectangular, said accumulating means disposed in a corner within said boundary and bordered by said second header pipe and the region defined by said tubes and fin units. 
     
     
       12. The condenser recited in claim 3, said tubes and said fin units comprising a heat exchanging region, said accumulator means projecting outwardly from said heat exchanging region. 
     
     
       13. The condenser recited in claim 3, said second header pipe being shorter than said first header pipe, said plurality of tubes comprising a group of one or more tubes which are shorter than the remaining tubes, said tubes of said group of tubes opening into said accumulating means such that said accumulating means projects into a region within the cross-sectional boundary of said condenser as defined by the length of said first header pipe and the length of said remaining tubes. 
     
     
       14. The condenser recited in claim 13, said accumulating means comprising a tank having an opening, the second open end of said second header pipe opening into said tank. 
     
     
       15. The condenser recited in claim 14, said tank having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. 
     
     
       16. The condenser recited in claim 3, said tubes being essentially flat. 
     
     
       17. In a condenser for a refrigerant fluid circuit, said condenser comprising a plurality of tubes having opposite first and second open ends, a plurality of fin units disposed between said plurality of tubes, first and second header pipes fixedly disposed at said opposite ends respectively, said open ends of said tubes disposed in fluid communication with the interior of said header pipes, said first header pipe having an inlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, said second header pipe having a first open end and a closed second end, an outlet means disposed at said first open end of said second header pipe for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, the improvement comprising: said outlet means having a channel therethrough and hermetically sealing said first open end of said second header pipe except for said channel, said second header pipe including a hole formed through a peripheral surface at a location adjacent said closed end, said condenser further comprising a pipe member having opposite open ends disposed within said second header pipe, one open end of said pipe member disposed near said closed second end of said second header pipe, a second open end of said pipe member hermetically linked to said channel of said outlet means, and a refrigerant accumulating means for accumulating condensed liquid refrigerant and disposed at said closed second end of said second header pipe, the interior of said accumulating means linked to the interior of said second header pipe through said hole.   
     
     
       18. The condenser recited in claim 17, said first open end of said second header pipe disposed at the upper side of said condenser, said closed second end of said second header pipe disposed at the lower side of said condenser. 
     
     
       19. The condenser recited in claim 18 said accumulating means comprising a cylindrical tank. 
     
     
       20. The condenser recited in claim 17, said accumulating means comprising a cylindrical tank. 
     
     
       21. The condenser recited in claim 20, said first and second header pipes having portions projecting beyond the lowermost of said plurality of tubes, said cylindrical tank having a closed end and an open end, said cylindrical tank extending between said projecting portions of said first and second header pipes, said open end of said cylindrical tank disposed through said hole of said second header pipe, said closed end of said cylindrical tank fixedly secured to an exterior surface of said first header pipe. 
     
     
       22. In a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element and an evaporator sequentially disposed, the improvement wherein said condenser comprises first and second header pipes and a heat exchanging region, said heat exchanging region further including a plurality of tubes disposed between said first and second header pipes and a plurality of fin units disposed between adjacent tubes, said condenser further comprising an integrally formed receiver disposed adjacent said heat exchanging region and a pipe member disposed in said second header pipe and having a first open end linked to said evaporator and a second open end, said receiver comprising an accumulating tank disposed in fluid communication with said second open end of said pipe member. 
     
     
       23. The circuit recited in claim 22, said tank having a cylindrical shape and disposed adjacent and parallel to said tubes. 
     
     
       24. The circuit recited in claim 22, said tubes being essentially flat. 
     
     
       25. The circuit recited in claim 22 said expansion element comprising an expansion valve disposed between said condenser and said evaporator. 
     
     
       26. A refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element and an evaporator sequentially disposed, said condenser comprising a plurality of tubes having opposite first and second open ends, a plurality of fin units disposed between said plurality of tubes, first and second header pipes fixedly disposed at said opposite ends respectively, said open ends of said tubes disposed in fluid communication with the interior of said header pipes, said first header pipe having an inlet means for linking the condenser to an external element of the circuit, said second header pipe having a first end and a second end, an outlet means disposed at said first end of said second header pipe for linking the condenser to said expansion element, said outlet means hermetically sealing said first end of said second header pipe except for a channel therethrough, a receiver closing said second end of said second header pipe, a pipe member having open ends and disposed within said second header pipe, one open end of said pipe member disposed near said second end of said second header pipe, a second open end of said pipe member hermetically linked to said channel of said outlet means, condensed refrigerant fluid flowing to said expansion valve exclusively through said pipe member and said channel of said outlet means. 
     
     
       27. In a condenser for a refrigerant fluid circuit, said condenser comprising at least first and second header pipes and a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with said first and second header pipes, a plurality of fin units disposed between adjacent tubes, and a receiver disposed adjacent and in fluid communication with one of said header pipes, said receiver forming an integral part of said condenser and having a cross-sectional area which is larger than the cross-sectional area of said one of said header pipes, an outlet disposed on said one header pipe at one location, and a hollow pipe member disposed within said one header pipe, a first end of said pipe member in fluid communication with said outlet, a second end of said hollow pipe member in fluid communication with said receiver. 
     
     
       28. A condenser comprising: first and second header pipes, one said header pipe having an opening;   a plurality of tubes disposed in fluid communication with said first and second header pipes;   a plurality of fin units disposed between adjacent tubes;   a receiver forming an integral part of said condenser and having an open top connected in fluid communication with said one header pipe and having a bottom; and   an outlet pipe having an open inlet end located within said receiver and adjacent said bottom and having an outlet end sealed to and extending from said one header pipe.   
     
     
       29. A refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion element and an evaporator sequentially disposed, said condenser comprising: first and second header pipes, one said header pipe having an opening;   a plurality of tubes disposed in fluid communication with said first and second header pipes;   a plurality of fin units disposed between adjacent tubes;   a receiver forming an integral part of said condenser and having an open top connected in fluid communication with said one header pipe and having a bottom; and   an outlet pipe having an open inlet end located within said receiver and adjacent said bottom and having an outlet end sealed to and extending from said one header pipe.   
     
     
       30. A condenser comprising: first and second header pipes and a heat exchanging region, an outlet disposed on said second header pipe, said heat exchanging region further including a plurality of tubes disposed between said first and second header pipes and a plurality of fin units disposed between adjacent tubes, said condenser further comprising an integrally formed receiver disposed adjacent said heat exchanging region, and a pipe member disposed in said second header pipe and having a first open end linked to said outlet and a second open end, said receiver comprising an accumulating tank disposed in fluid communication with said second open end of said pipe member.